Ah!!! It’s Spring! Warmer weather is on its way. The snow has mostly melted, and the ice will be off the lakes and ponds very soon, giving us a glimpse of open water once again!
When warmer weather arrives, many people are just itching to get outside and soak up the sunshine and fresh air. And, like people, our houseplants like to be outside, too. But when is it really okay to bring our indoor plants outside?
Here are tips on how to transition your indoor houseplants to the outdoors this Spring – and watch them thrive!
When To Go Outside
Most houseplants are tropical plants, so they require temperatures no lower than 55-degrees Fahrenheit to survive. Because of this, make sure not to move your plants outside until the lowest temperature of the day stays consistently at 55-degrees Fahrenheit or above. If temperatures dip lower than this, your plants will suffer and could die.
TIP: If you’ve already moved your houseplants outside and then discover a forecast of less than 55-degrees F for an evening, you’ll want to either move your plants to a garage or other shelter or cover them with a large tarp or blanket. Keeping large plants on a rolling dolly makes moving them in a hurry much easier.
Learning to Adapt
Houseplants don’t just adapt instantly to being set outside. You’ll want to give them time to get used to the brighter light, cooler temperatures, and wind.
Lighting
One of the best ways to help your plants adapt is to keep them in a shady spot for the first seven to 14 days, then slowly move them to brighter areas as needed. The light intensity outside is much brighter than plants receive when indoors, so this brief shady transition will really help acclimate plants better.
TIP: Make sure to know the light needs of each of your plants, and place them in locations that best suit them. Also use caution when placing plants in full sunlight outside. Full sunlight is very intense, and even plants that love full sun when indoors, could get leaf burn when in full sun outside.
Wind
You’ll want to make sure to place your plants in an area that doesn’t get too much wind – at least initially. Let your plants get used to the wind slowly by keeping them close to your house or a fence to protect them. A little bit of wind helps a plant stay strong, but too much wind can damage the leaves, the plant, or can even tip the plant over.
Water
And of course, depending on the temperature, humidity, amount of sunlight, and wind your plants receive, you’ll likely need to water them more often than when they were indoors. Make sure to check your plants at least every other day to ensure they haven’t dried out too much, and water accordingly. Of course, rain showers will definitely help keep your plants hydrated – so let your plants enjoy the rain.
TIP: When moving houseplants outdoors, take notice of which pots have drain holes and which ones don’t. If a pot does not have drain holes, the plant could drown when it rains. Either keep those potted plants in a covered area to limit rainfall or drill holes in the pots to provide drainage. Speaking of rain, make sure to collect that precious water to use for watering your plants – both indoor and outdoor plants. Check out “How to Collect Rainwater for Watering Houseplants” for more details on easy ways to do this.
Additional Tips
- Keep Them Inside – While many houseplants DO appreciate being outside in the Spring through Fall, they will continue to grow just fine if you prefer to keep them indoors.
- Move Just Some Plants Outside – Some plants are more fragile than others – you know the ones. Those drama queens. They are probably better off staying inside during the warmer months. If that is the case, just move the more hardy plants outside.
- Fertilize Your Plants – Once your plants have safely made the transition to being outside, make sure to give them an all-purpose fertilizer. Applying fertilizer to moist soil is best, as this can help reduce the roots getting too much fertilizer, which can cause browning of the leaf tips.
- Monitor for Insects – When plants are moved outside, you’ll want to watch them carefully for insects. If you do spot damaging insects, you’ll want to treat the plant immediately. Be careful using various chemicals when treating outdoor plants, as some chemicals can cause damage to bees, butterflies, and birds.
- Chart Their Growth – It’s interesting to chart the growth of your plants once they’ve been moved outside. Many plants will double in size just from being outside! Take photos periodically to further document their growth.
- Protect Plants from Storms – While a gentle rain shower is good for your plants, you’ll want to protect your plants during severe weather. When high wind, hail, or thunderstorms approach, make sure to move your plants to a sheltered area. This will prevent the plants from tipping over or from receiving damage.
- Get New Plants – If you’re leery of bringing your prized indoor plants outside, or if you’ll just miss seeing your favorite plants indoors, buy NEW plants specifically for outdoor decor in the warmer months. This way, you’ll get to enjoy your favorite indoor plants inside, and still have gorgeous plants outside. Then in the Fall, bring your new plants inside to join the jungle.
Do you have additional tips for moving houseplants outside in the Spring? Share in a comment below!
Fun plants to try this Spring…
